Britain agrees to act fast on extraditing Mallya, 15 others

The British government has agreed to act fast on New Delhi’s requests for extraditing 16 people, including business tycoon Vijay Mallya.

The officials from the two countries met here on Monday and Tuesday to discuss ways to avert delays. The move came after New Delhi on February 9 requested the British government to extradite Mallya so that he could be made to stand trial for loan default and money laundering. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday also asked the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to invoke the 1995 India-UK treaty for mutual legal assistance to prosecute Mallya.

Arun Chatterjee, joint secretary (consular, passport and visa) at the MEA, led the Indian delegation while the British delegation was led by the chief of the UK Central Authority for Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance.

A source told DH that officials from the two countries tried to identify the causes for delays, explored ways to expedite pending requests and had a specific discussion on extraditing Mallya.

“Both sides held detailed and fruitful deliberations on the legal processes and procedures in either country and reviewed the requests for extradition and mutual legal assistance pending on either side,” the MEA stated.

“Both sides reiterated their determination to strengthen legal cooperation and expedite the pending requests.” The officials agreed that the central authorities of both the countries would review further progress in the pending cases every six months through video conferences. The existing extradition treaty between the two countries has not helped India much.  New Delhi, in fact, could not get anyone extradited from the UK until a few months ago.